We’re a national law firm with a local reach. Our legal experts are here for you. Whether it’s personal or business, we understand that everyone’s situation is different. But we’re more than just a law firm – we’re a team of people working together to help individuals and businesses navigate life’s ups and downs. Working here you’ll feel a part of our friendly and inclusive environment.

We’ll value you for who you are and what you bring. We support each other and push boundaries to achieve incredible things and make a real difference to our clients and communities.

We're always looking to support our colleagues to work in a way that works best for them and everyone else, including our clients, the business and the regulators. Please speak to a member of our Recruitment and Onboarding team for more information.

You’ll join our highly regarded national Employment team, working closely with Partner Jenny Arrowsmith and other senior colleagues in the Leeds and Sheffield teams.

You’ll work on a broad mix of contentious and non-contentious employment law matters for a diverse employer client base, with opportunities to advise individuals too.

Your role will include advising on day‑to‑day HR issues, workplace change, litigation, and complex workforce challenges. You’ll be involved in:

• Advising employers on disciplinary and grievance matters, sickness absence, TUPE, performance management, restructurings and redundancies.
• Supporting senior lawyers on complex Employment Tribunal litigation, including discrimination, whistleblowing and unfair dismissal claims.
• Drafting employment contracts, reviewing policies and negotiating settlement agreements.
• Managing your own caseload of matters with appropriate supervision including advice to some individuals on settlement agreements.
• Carrying out legal research and preparing client‑ready advice.
• Contributing to business development activities, thought leadership and client training sessions.

You’ll gain specialist experience with our education sector clients — large school trusts and FE colleges — giving you early career exposure to unique issues such as industrial action and safeguarding.

We’re looking for a motivated and collaborative junior lawyer who is eager to build their career within a top‑tier employment team. You’ll have strong analytical skills, excellent communication and a genuine interest in employment law.

• Qualified solicitor with up to 3 years PQE. We are also open to NQ applicants.
• A demonstrable interest in employment law, with experience gained during training or post‑qualification.
• Confidence working with clients and delivering clear, practical advice.
• Strong drafting skills and attention to detail.
• Ability to manage competing priorities and work effectively under supervision.
• Team‑oriented mindset with willingness to support colleagues across the broader Employment team.

• 25 days holidays as standard plus bank holidays - You can ‘buy’ up to 35hrs of extra holiday too.
• Generous and flexible pension schemes.
• Volunteering days – Two days of volunteering every year for a cause of your choice (fully paid)
• Westfield Health membership, offering refunds on medical services alongside our Aviva Digital GP services.

We also offer a wide range of well-being initiatives to encourage positive mental health both in and out of the workplace and to make sure you’re fully supported.  This includes our Flexible by Choice programme which gives our colleagues more choice over a hybrid way of working subject to role, team and client requirements.

We have been ranked in the Best Workplaces for Wellbeing for Large Organisations for 2024!

Our responsible business programmes are fundamental to who we are and our purpose. We’re committed to being a diverse and inclusive workplace where our colleagues can flourish, and we have established a number of inclusion network groups across our business to support this aim. 

Our commitment to Social Responsibility, community investment activity and tackling climate change is a fundamental part of who we are. It’s made up of four strands: Our People, Our Community, Our Environment and Our Pro Bono.

As part of the Irwin Mitchell Group’s on-boarding process all successful applicants are required to complete the group’s employment screening process. This process helps to ensure that all new employees meet our standards in relation to honesty and integrity therefore protecting the interests of the Group, colleagues, clients, partners and other stakeholders.

We carry out pre employment screening to establish your eligibility to work in the UK, criminal record and financial checks ­with our trusted 3rd parties.

The employment screening process will fully comply with Data Protection and other applicable laws.

Irwin Mitchell LLP is an equal opportunity employer.